Mother accused of abusing foster daughter for years

Mother accused of abusing foster daughter for years

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Story Published: Jun 26, 2007 at 6:04 PM PDT

Story Updated: Jun 27, 2007 at 1:38 PM PDT

By Bryan Johnson

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FEDERAL WAY - Police say a young girl lived through almost 10 years of horrific abuse by her foster mother.

The girl, who is now 16 years old, suffered more than emotional abuse. Police say she is blind in her right eye.

In court Tuesday, Chornice Lewis pleaded not guilty to abuse charges. A judge set bail at $1 million.

Those who know her say Lewis, 33, creates a good impression. She always says "thanks" and "God bless."

"Very polite," said Cheryl Rivera, the manager of the Federal Way apartment house where Lewis lived in 2006. "(She) always (said) 'God Bless you.' Her children were very clean cut, well mannered children."

But police tell a different story. They say Lewis was nice to her own children, but not to her foster daughter. She is charged with creating a nightmare.

"From the circumstances of having this child being the subject of this horrific set of circumstances and environment for 10 years, it is clear the system did not work," said Federal way police chief Brian Wilson.

Police give the following allegations:

If the girl acted up, her hand was placed on a red-hot stove.

If she didn't listen, she had to stand by the foster mom's bed all night. If she fell asleep, a 10-pound dumbbell was dropped on her feet.

Once, she was asked to get a pair of thongs (sandals); they were mis-matched. Court documents say as punishment, she was beaten about the face with an umbrella.

For not packing properly, police say an insulin needle was plunged deep into the girl's eye.

"We missed it," said Cheryl Stephani, an assistant secretary with the Department of Social and Health Services. "As a child welfare system. It's all of us, the courts, the department, the children's administration. We should hold each other accountable we need to hold each other accountable."

Police say there were 15 reports of child abuse before it finally ended. It ended when a neighbor told police he saw the girl locked in that closet.

Why did it take so many police complaints? Detectives say Lewis kept moving from apartment to apartment and they couldn't find her. That's despite the fact that she continued collecting foster parent benefits from the state.

Mental health professionals say Lewis is fit to stand trial. Trial is now set for September.

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